Of the five wild geese that hang out around Lake Miramar in San Diego, Louie may be the least social. He will let out a loud hiss and even nip if someone gets too close. But when Mindy Dreisewerd comes around, the usually ornery animal becomes as gentle as a lamb. For about a year, Louie and Dreisewerd have shared a special bond. Louie stays by her side and will even let her pick him up. "He'd just go to sleep anywhere near me. And mentioned to me, 'that's kind of cute how he stays close to you.' And I felt like he could feel me, I was feeling sad inside. He's an outcast, he knows how it feels," she said. Dreisewerd has struggled with her own demons. She began drinking at the age of 12 and used hard drugs while in college. She has also battled depression, and when she lost her job in 2016, her depression brought her to new depths. "I'm not married, I don't have kids. So much of my personality and my life is wrapped up in my work," she said. She struggled to find a new job and struggled to get out of bed. One day she felt called to visit Lake Miramar, where she met a new friend: the notorious Louie. "I fell in love with him," Dreisewerd said. "I don't have to tell him and try to explain to him what's going on. I think he can just sense that I need a friend too. He just seemed to adopt me first."Dreisewerd and Louie have become true best friends."He has a character, a personality to him that's just, to me, so endearing. But to many, not so much because he will attack most people. But when he gets a piece of your heart, it's so awesome to be loved by him," she said. Soon, Dreisewerd found a full-time job. But she insists she will still make time to see her beloved Louie. "He truly did give me a reason to get out of bed and take on the day," she said.

San Diego, CA —

Of the five wild geese that hang out around Lake Miramar in San Diego, Louie may be the least social.

Advertisement

He will let out a loud hiss and even nip if someone gets too close. But when Mindy Dreisewerd comes around, the usually ornery animal becomes as gentle as a lamb.

For about a year, Louie and Dreisewerd have shared a special bond. Louie stays by her side and will even let her pick him up.

"He'd just go to sleep anywhere near me. And [a friend] mentioned to me, 'that's kind of cute how he stays close to you.' And I felt like he could feel me, I was feeling sad inside. He's an outcast, he knows how it feels," she said.

Dreisewerd has struggled with her own demons. She began drinking at the age of 12 and used hard drugs while in college. She has also battled depression, and when she lost her job in 2016, her depression brought her to new depths.

"I'm not married, I don't have kids. So much of my personality and my life is wrapped up in my work," she said.

She struggled to find a new job and struggled to get out of bed. One day she felt called to visit Lake Miramar, where she met a new friend: the notorious Louie.

"I fell in love with him," Dreisewerd said. "I don't have to tell him and try to explain to him what's going on. I think he can just sense that I need a friend too. He just seemed to adopt me first."

Dreisewerd and Louie have become true best friends.

"He has a character, a personality to him that's just, to me, so endearing. But to many, not so much because he will attack most people. But when he gets a piece of your heart, it's so awesome to be loved by him," she said.

Soon, Dreisewerd found a full-time job. But she insists she will still make time to see her beloved Louie.

"He truly did give me a reason to get out of bed and take on the day," she said.